Apr. 21—Kalispell City Council is expected to vote on Monday on whether to expand the breadth and streamline abatement for two ordinances addressing junk vehicles and tall grass.
But whether the changes will make much difference remains in question, as city officials in the past warned Council that the city lacks the resources to effectively enforce its own code.
The responsibility to keep property owners in compliance with municipal code is currently spread across several city departments, where code enforcement is not their main priority.
Council meets on April 21 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.
Council veered from the idea of hiring a dedicated code enforcement officer during a March meeting. Councilors were reluctant to inflate the city’s budget by onboarding an officer, some wanting to see data on the frequency and type of municipal code complaints received before bringing on a full-time employee.
Kalispell is the only large city in Montana without dedicated code enforcement personnel.
The proposed amendment to the junk vehicle ordinance would provide a more fleshed-out definition for a junk vehicle.
Current code defines one as “a discarded, ruined, wrecked, or dismantled motor vehicle (including component parts) that is inoperative or incapable of being driven.”
The amendment would expand that definition to provide eight different characteristics, and falling into any one category would put the vehicle in violation. One characteristic would be that the vehicle “lacks an engine, wheel, tire, or properly installed battery or other structural part which renders the vehicle inoperable for use as designed by the manufacturer.” Others include having a broken or missing fender or door among other parts, growing weeds, containing garbage, or becoming a danger to children.
The ordinance allows an exception for any vehicle being repaired as long as the work is completed within 60 days.
The proposed amendment to the city community decay ordinance would address tall grass and update the abatement process.
“Any unchecked or overgrown vegetation that is unsightly, troublesome or offensive, including all weeds and grasses over eight inches in height,” are considered in violation, according to the amendment.
Exceptions include property over 15,000 square feet, property inaccessible for mowing or removing weeds, or property that with maintained and cultivated gardens.
Once notified of the violation, the property owner has 10 days to address the issue.
The entire community decay code encapsulates any public nuisances created by unchecked or overgrown vegetation, rubble, debris junk that becomes injurious to health, indecent, or offensive to the senses, according to the code.
MAYOR MARK Johnson, with the consent of Council, is expected to make a handful of appointments across an array of city boards that currently have vacancies or positions set to expire in the coming weeks.
New members will be appointed to boards like the Tourism Business Improvement District, Urban Forestry Committee, Conrad Mansion Board and the Architectural Review Committee.
On the consent agenda for Monday night, City Hall is expected to hire Pavement Maintenance Solutions to chip seal streets at a cost of about $192,000.
Council will also give the OK to hire Michael Terrell Landscape Architecture to complete the Parks and Recreation’s Master Plan, “that will provide guidance to the department over the next 10 years.”
Council will accept a roughly $560,000 state grant for taxiway and beacon maintenance at the Kalispell Airport.
A roughly $18,000 grant for a network intrusion detection system will also be accepted.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.